Latest news with #Matildas
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Strong winds blamed for 427 drones falling into Yarra River during Women's World Cup light show
Strong winds have been blamed for more than 400 drones falling from the sky into Melbourne's Yarra River during a light show celebrating the Matildas before the Women's World Cup. The light show, using 500 Damoda drones, was scheduled for the evening of 14 July 2023 over the river in Docklands, in Melbourne's CBD. The drones, part of a show celebrating Australia's women's football team, launched at 6.30pm. Less than two minutes later many began showing critical errors indicating an autopilot failure, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau report into the incident, released this week. Shortly after, pilots lost connection to the drones and they began colliding with each other, the ATSB chief commissioner, Angus Mitchell, noted in the report. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The remote pilot attempted to return the drones to the launch site individually, but 427 of the 500 drones were lost, the majority falling into the Yarra. Divers were sent in to recover them, but were only able to retrieve 236 out of the 427 that entered the water, with 191 remaining unrecovered. The ATSB's investigation found that the wind conditions at the time exceeded the drones' capacity shortly after launch, triggering the collisions and errors. 'The wind limit exceedance was not identified by the [remote pilot] as they were unaware that the wind speed affecting the aircraft was displayed on the [ground control station] computer screen,' Mitchell said. The report identified the operator did not have a system to ensure all of its pilots could use the ground control station's software features, increasing the risk of pilots failing to identify potential issues in the lead-up to the show. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion It also found the software did not have the functionality to actively alert a pilot to wind speed exedances. Damoda has advised the ATSB it is considering an update to enable those alerts. 'This incident demonstrates the importance of drone pilots being familiar with all functionality and data provided by relevant ground control software,' Mitchell said. 'It also shows the impact human factors can have on drone operations, and how they should be actively considered and managed.'
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis photos emerge amid sad Matildas news
Sam Kerr and fiance Kristie Mewis have been snapped looking over the construction of their future oceanfront home in North Coogee, Perth. The happy couple purchased the 200-square-metre piece of land back in August 2023 for an eye-watering $940,000. As Kerr, 31, made her way around the construction site, Mewis, 34, was seen holding a paint colour swatch with the words 'Snowy Mountains' written on it. The dream home which is set to be three levels when completed, is just up the road from Kerr's childhood home that was in Kardinya. While the images of the happy couple's visit to the site of their forever home are heartwarming, they paint a sad truth for the future of Australia's greatest soccer player. Kerr has been sidelined for more than 18 months after suffering an ACL injury during a training camp with Chelsea in early January, 2024. She suffered a setback on her road to recovery after having to undergo more surgery. In promising news however the operation wasn't related to the torn ACL. Her extended stint on the sidelines however has cruelled her time with WSL side Chelsea with her contract set to expire in June, 2026. The injury delay also means sad news for the Matildas and fans of the game with Kerr's prime arguably now in the rearview mirror. Australia's all-time leading international goal scorer has done almost everything the game has to offer, even becoming the first ever female footballer to grace the cover of a FIFA video game. But after almost two years since she last pulled on the boots, any hopes of her returning to her world-beating best may now be a thing of the past. With her contract at Chelsea set to expire in less than a year and a timetable on her return still up in the air, Kerr could potentially stick around and play in Australia. A move that could be followed by Mewis after she was let go by West Ham United in early July after two years at the English club. 'Even though my time at West Ham was not what I envisioned, I still learned so much and met so many amazing people,' she said. 'Everyone, but especially my teammates were incredibly supportive through my injury and pregnancy and I can't thank them enough for it. Nothing has been more important to me than football … but having my son has changed that 'Thank you @westhamwomen and thank you for helping me become a mom.' The couple who welcomed their first child in May and now with their dream home nearing completion, it wouldn't be at all surprising to see the duo stick around in Australia for the foreseeable future.
7NEWS
5 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Fake Nathan Cleary image on advertising flyer sparks legal storm: ‘It's a disgrace'
A legal storm is brewing after NRL superstar Nathan Cleary's image was used for an advertising flyer that was circulated around a Homebush car park during Wednesday night's State of Origin battle. The flyer used a crude digitally altered image of Cleary with his arm around a woman. Adding to the controversy, the woman is obviously not his high-profile partner, Matildas superstar Mary Fowler. The words on the flyer — that is seemingly selling NRL car bonnet covers — said, 'Way to go Blues! I knew this one had rizz! I'm taking this one home!' It then noted: 'This flyer was printed a week ago.' With an incorrect sponsor on Cleary's jersey, the ad would appear to be AI generated. And Cleary's lawyers are not happy, saying police could get involved. 'It's a disgrace what they're doing with these guys' brands,' lawyer Daniel McGirr told the SMH. 'There's a couple of avenues that will go down the track of. One of them is civilly, but they are also obtaining a benefit by deception, which is criminal. We don't know who is affiliated with these brands – or whether they are real brands to start with. 'They might be scams. Say the punter on the street thinks, 'Nathan Cleary is aligned to this, I trust him and he's my hero.' They click on it, and they could be taken to some dark web or something like that and get scammed. It's a criminal matter. With AI, this will get worse and worse until something is done about it.'
West Australian
6 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Rita Saffioti: Exciting movement with electric buses rolling out in WA
1. An exciting moment for public transport in WA with electric buses rolling out into the suburbs. Electric buses are now leaving the Malaga depot into key routes through Morley and Ballajura — and of course the 960 and 950 routes. Not only are they cleaner and better for the environment, they're also cheaper to run in the long term, which means better value for money for WA taxpayers. 2. There's huge excitement building for AC Milan's second visit to WA, and we're gearing up for an extravaganza with an Italian village to be set up at HBF Park with Italian food vendors, music and a spritz bar all available ahead of the match on July 31. 3. Great to have the Matildas in town. It was an exciting match against Panama on Tuesday night with many fans braving the cold to watch Charlie Grant score the match winner. The Tillies have two more international windows before they're back in Perth for the Asian Cup on March 1. 4. How good were the West Coast Fever this week, creating Super Netball history with a 11th straight win, beating the Giants to secure the minor premiership for 2025. 5. Speaking of legends, thank you to Fremantle great, Michael Walters, who's retired from the AFL after a stellar career that featured 365 goals. He's inspired a generation, not just as a footy player, but as an incredible community leader. 6. We announced Seymour Whyte, Civmec and Aurecon as the preferred alliance team to develop and design the new multi-purpose Perth Entertainment and Sporting Precinct. Key members of the alliance delivered the new locally made Boorloo Bridge, and this precinct will no doubt become another incredible piece of public infrastructure. 7. We're delivering more social and affordable homes for West Australians with the latest round of the Housing Australia Future Fund boosting supply with another 515 homes to be built across the State. Since 2021, we have added more than 3300 social homes, bolstered by a strong relationship with the Federal Government. 8. Kids and teachers are having a well deserved break with school holidays underway. With many people travelling around the State, I'd urge everyone to take extra caution when you're behind the wheel and to stay safe on our roads. 9. Woke up on Wednesday to find I was on the front page of the paper — well it was me photoshopped as Kath from Kath and Kim. As a strange coincidence, I actually dressed up as Kath for a fancy dress event recently, and my friends dressed as Kim and Sharon. Sharon was so convincing, she won best dressed for the night! 10. Yesterday's front page did highlight an important point. As politicians, we are elected to represent all West Australians, and Government is about listening to everyone, not just those that have a platform.
West Australian
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Sam Kerr says Leroy's in Perth is fave coffee ahead of leaving WA with Kristie Mewis and baby Jagger
Matildas superstar Sam Kerr has said farewell to her hometown for now after she was in Perth to support the national team's four-game stint. The Fremantle-born was spotted at Perth Airport on Wednesday with her partner Kristie Mewis and baby son Jagger in tow. Kerr was in charge of hauling the family's multiple suitcases while Mewis attempted to shield their little one from prying paparazzi cameras. At the weekend, they enjoyed a brunch with Kerr's parents, with Mewis seen holding their two-month old in a baby carrier. Kerr was quick to snap an update for Instagram telling her fans where they could get Perth's best coffee. The 31-year-old came to the conclusion that Leroy's in Peppermint Grove had the best beans and baristas on hand. Their departure comes after Kerr stepped out to train with the Matildas for the first time since injuring her ACL during a Chelsea training camp in Morocco in January last year. Kerr was not part of the squad's friendlies against Slovenia and Panama. During Australia's first match against Slovenia at HBF Park, Kerr sent fans into a frenzy, and for their running shoes, with a pre-game signing session. Kerr and Mewis began their relationship around 2020 before confirming they were a couple on social media in August 2021 and were engaged by 2023.
